Less than two months after a St. Paul firefighter died at his home of a serious illness, his widow found out the generosity of a group that helps families of first responders.
Tim Bertz was 52, the oldest cadet in the program’s history, when he died just days after graduation.
Tim’s death brought financial hardship to his widow, Andrea, who was also fighting her own medical problems.
On Tuesday, Minnesota 100, which raises money for first responders and their families, presented her with a check for $50,000.
“It doesn’t matter how much this is, because there is a huge gap in my world right now,” she said. “The thoughtfulness means more to me than anything.”
Minnesota 100 has been helping first responder families since 1972, and has given more than a half-million dollars in just the last three years.
That’s more than the grand total given in the Club’s first 50 years.
“To be there for me and my husband, Tim, there’s no words to express that,” Andea said during the presentation ceremony at the St. Paul Fire Department headquarters on West 7th Street.
“You are in my hearts and my prayers, and keep doing what you’re doing.”